LEE BOWYER has vowed to put his lost year behind him to prove he still has what it takes to be a Premiership star.

LEE BOWYER has vowed to put his lost year behind him to prove he still has what it takes to be a Premiership star.

The 26-year-old midfielder endured a tough start to his career at Newcastle as he battled for match fitness - but he is gradually running into the kind of form which made his name at home and in Europe during the height of his powers at Leeds.

Bowyer's returning form has coincided with a superb run for a resurgent Newcastle, who collected their fifth successive win - four of the them in the Premiership - in a stroll against Portsmouth.

His clever flick allowed Laurent Robert to set up Gary Speed for a clinical 17th-minute finish - and when Alan Shearer thumped home a penalty 10 minutes later after Dejan Stefanovic had handled Bowyer's goal-bound shot the game was won. Shola Ameobi capped an excellent individual display with a 61st-minute header, but it was the manner rather than the margin of victory which was most encouraging.